Sex offender accused of approaching girl, 12, in Waynesboro

Saturday

Dec 22, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Staff reports

WAYNESBORO — A registered sex offender is accused of trying to make a 12-year-old girl go home with him on Thursday.

Frederick Alexander Hightower, 40, of 224 W. Fourth St. allegedly approached the girl on Hamilton Avenue as she was walking home from school Thursday. Police said he had a knife and told her to go home with him.

The girl told police that she told Hightower "no" and ran away.

Hightower faces one count of attempting to lure a child into a vehicle. He is being held in Franklin County prison on $250,000 bond.

Hightower pleaded guilty to a third-degree sex offense in January 2005 in Washington County, Md. He has been listed on Pennsylvania's sexual offender registry since August 2007.

Parents alerted

The Waynesboro Area School District alerted parents about the incident Thursday afternoon via automated telephone message. The message came from Dianne Eberhardt, principal at nearby Fairview Elementary School.

A second message sent out by the school on Friday told parents that police had arrested a suspect.

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